Two aides to former UA president still being paid

Two top aides to former University of Alabama President Guy Bailey are leaving the school but will continue to draw a salary for months.

Dusty Compton | Tuscaloosa News

By Kim EatonStaff Writer

Published: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 11:25 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 11:25 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Former University of Alabama president Guy Bailey has been given about 10 months to prepare for a potential transition to teaching in the classroom, University of Alabama System spokeswoman Kellee Reinhart said Friday.

Bailey resigned as president on Oct. 31 after less than two months on the job, citing his wife’s poor health, but was classified as being on leave through August 2013 and will continue to draw his $535,000 salary.

Two of Bailey’s aides are losing their jobs but will continue to draw their salaries, which were a combined $246,000, for several months, Reinhart said.

With Bailey having tenure as an English professor, however, which was granted when he was hired as president, he can return to the university in a teaching position once his leave expires. If Bailey joins the English department, he will receive a salary equal to that of the highest-paid professor in that department, Reinhart said. She could not confirm what that amount would be, but according to a database of UA salaries compiled by The Tuscaloosa News in December 2011, the highest paid professor in the department made about $160,000 and the average salary in the department was about $110,000.

If he does not return to the classroom, his leave will end, she said.

It is not uncommon for a resigning chancellor or president to be given time to prepare for a transition, ­Reinhart said. Several sections in UA’s faculty handbook focus on the different types of leave available for faculty members, as well as administrators returning to a faculty position.

The faculty handbook discusses generally how long a faculty member must be employed by the university before being granted leave. It also provides a general framework for compensation while on leave. Bailey’s salary while on leave and his employment time of less than two months does not fall under either category. Reinhart said those details were at the discretion of UA System Chancellor Robert Witt.

According to an Associated Press story last week, Witt praised Bailey’s expertise in the field of linguistics and said he would be a “tremendous asset” to the university if he decided to make the transition to the classroom. Because of this, Witt decided it was the “right thing for the university to do” to provide a developmental leave appointment that others in his position who had been here longer would have received, according to the AP report. Witt made the decision in consultation with the system’s board of trustees, Reinhart said.

Bailey’s two aides — presidential assistant Mary Larson Diaz and presidential chief of staff Justin Clark — also were provided administrative leave for four months, during which they will be paid based on their salaries, Reinhart said. Diaz had a $148,000 annual salary, while Clark’s yearly salary was $98,000.

When Bailey was hired, he informed Witt that he would be bringing two staff members from Texas Tech University with him, a decision that the board of trustees did not have to approve, Reinhart said. Both positions were eliminated when Bailey resigned as president.

Diaz and Clark will continue to receive medical benefits during their administrative leave.

Bailey, who has two degrees from UA, was hired in July to replace Witt, who became the university system’s chancellor earlier this year, and began his duties on Sept. 4.

Judy Bonner, a former provost, replaced Bailey and became the university’s first permanent female president. Reinhart has said her compensation package is identical to Bailey’s.

Bonner, who served as interim president before Bailey was hired, is the sister of U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Former University of Alabama president Guy Bailey has been given about 10 months to prepare for a potential transition to teaching in the classroom, University of Alabama System spokeswoman Kellee Reinhart said Friday.</p><p>Bailey resigned as president on Oct. 31 after less than two months on the job, citing his wife's poor health, but was classified as being on leave through August 2013 and will continue to draw his $535,000 salary.</p><p>Two of Bailey's aides are losing their jobs but will continue to draw their salaries, which were a combined $246,000, for several months, Reinhart said. </p><p>With Bailey having tenure as an English professor, however, which was granted when he was hired as president, he can return to the university in a teaching position once his leave expires. If Bailey joins the English department, he will receive a salary equal to that of the highest-paid professor in that department, Reinhart said. She could not confirm what that amount would be, but according to a database of UA salaries compiled by The Tuscaloosa News in December 2011, the highest paid professor in the department made about $160,000 and the average salary in the department was about $110,000.</p><p>If he does not return to the classroom, his leave will end, she said.</p><p>It is not uncommon for a resigning chancellor or president to be given time to prepare for a transition, ­Reinhart said. Several sections in UA's faculty handbook focus on the different types of leave available for faculty members, as well as administrators returning to a faculty position. </p><p>The faculty handbook discusses generally how long a faculty member must be employed by the university before being granted leave. It also provides a general framework for compensation while on leave. Bailey's salary while on leave and his employment time of less than two months does not fall under either category. Reinhart said those details were at the discretion of UA System Chancellor Robert Witt.</p><p>According to an Associated Press story last week, Witt praised Bailey's expertise in the field of linguistics and said he would be a “tremendous asset” to the university if he decided to make the transition to the classroom. Because of this, Witt decided it was the “right thing for the university to do” to provide a developmental leave appointment that others in his position who had been here longer would have received, according to the AP report. Witt made the decision in consultation with the system's board of trustees, Reinhart said.</p><p>Bailey's two aides — presidential assistant Mary Larson Diaz and presidential chief of staff Justin Clark — also were provided administrative leave for four months, during which they will be paid based on their salaries, Reinhart said. Diaz had a $148,000 annual salary, while Clark's yearly salary was $98,000.</p><p>When Bailey was hired, he informed Witt that he would be bringing two staff members from Texas Tech University with him, a decision that the board of trustees did not have to approve, Reinhart said. Both positions were eliminated when Bailey resigned as president.</p><p>Diaz and Clark will continue to receive medical benefits during their administrative leave. </p><p>Bailey, who has two degrees from UA, was hired in July to replace Witt, who became the university system's chancellor earlier this year, and began his duties on Sept. 4.</p><p>Judy Bonner, a former provost, replaced Bailey and became the university's first permanent female president. Reinhart has said her compensation package is identical to Bailey's. </p><p>Bonner, who served as interim president before Bailey was hired, is the sister of U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile.</p><p>Material from the Associated Press was included in this report.</p><p>Reach Kim Eaton at kim.eaton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.</p>